Suspense.
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And now, Shenley brings you Radio's outstanding theater of thrills.
Suspense.
Presented by Roma Wines. That's R-O-M-A. Roma Wines for your everyday enjoyment.
Tonight, Roma Wines of Fresno, California bring you Mr. Walter Abel in Quiet Desperation,
a suspense play produced, edited, and directed for Shenley by William Spear.
It was during my lunch hour one day. Funny, I can't even remember the name of the book.
Anyway the sentence was, the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.
I couldn't seem to get past that sentence. Quiet desperation.
That was me the author was talking about, Homer Bigelow.
And suddenly I thought, why should I go on like that? I was desperate, okay, but why
should I be quiet? Why shouldn't I do something about it? Get myself out of the rut?
All I needed was the right break. It came a lot sooner than I expected.
One day, just before my vacation, I happened to overhear Mr. Pearson, he's president of
the bank, talking to one of the bank's directors, Corbin Vandergriff.
Usually their conversation is about debentures or first mortgages or government issues.
That stuff didn't interest me. Today their talk was a horse of another color.
It was a hot day and the door of the boss's office was open. They didn't even know I was
alive. I understand she's no great beauty, but it's
just as well she doesn't attract too much attention going through customs at both ends.
You mean to say, Corbin, that a young girl is willing to take the risk of violating her
country's currency controls? Evidently. Of course she feels exactly as the
father does, that they should be free over there to spend their own money wherever they
choose. Old Vale would break every law they've written
there just for the satisfaction of knowing he's outwitted them. And Hester probably feels
the same way about it. Well, then he'll get quite a kick out of
slipping 20,000 pounds out of the country. They're not pounds, John, but they might as
well be. They're just about as negotiable as cold cash.
By when that girl turns them over to me, I can walk into any dealer in the city and get
full market value in 10 minutes. And I intend to do it for them. I'm in complete sympathy.
No government on earth could tell me where and when and how to spend my own money.
Once she gets the money, what's she going to do with it?
Oh, I don't know. I don't care. My guess is that she's going to do some shrewd buying
highly scarce products for shipments back abroad. Leave it available to find a profitable
deal. When is she arriving?
Monday on the Elizabeth. I've engaged a suite for her at the Ambassador.
Good. I wrote them that I'd meet her at the boat,
take her to the hotel, get the negotiables and exchange them for her.
That afternoon she can throw the dollars out the window for all that matters to me. My
duty will be over. Well, aren't you going to entertain her while
she's here, see that she has a good time? Entertain her? I should say not.
What? I don't even know the girl. Besides, I'm a
little too old for that sort of thing. Oh, come on.
You keep it chilly in here. You know, I'm in the...
I wondered what Mr. Pearson would say if any of us employees at the banks were to play
fast and loose with the law the way Corbyn Vandergriff and that snooty dame Hester Vale
were doing. He wouldn't be quite so sympathetic and understanding. You can bet your bottom
dollar on that. That kind of skullduggery was labeled strictly for the rich.
I should have put the whole thing out of my mind, but somehow I couldn't.
20,000 pounds, 80,000 dollars in American money.
I stood there outside Mr. Pearson's office. I was shaken up of my quiet desperation.
Somehow, I just stood there dreaming about romance and adventure that you could buy with
money. Well, Homer, you're all set for your vacation?
Oh, yes, yes, sir. Leaving Friday for good old Eel River. My 13th year there.
Who the hell I envy you, son. I won't be going up until September.
Then you'll be fishing up at Eel River again this summer.
Oh, yes, yes. I wouldn't miss it for anything. I wrote a meal and told him to expect me.
We'll be quite a party this year, five of us, you know. Say, did I tell you about the
trout I caught last year? Yes. The bank president and his lowly employee
both went to the same place for their vacation, but what a difference.
When he went out fishing, he had two guides per man with him to pack and carry, to paddle
and cook, to set up camp, to do everything that needed to.
Whereas, I had to do everything for myself and by myself.
Well, have a good time, Homer. I'll see you when you return. I'll say goodbye now. I won't
be back anymore today. Goodbye, sir, and thanks.
I had my lunch that day as I usually did in the boardroom. Jenny, Mr. Pearson's secretary,
had left the door to his office open so that if the phone rang, I could take the message
while she was out. The phone did ring, and it was Corbin Vandergriff.
Who is this? This is Homer Biglow, Mr. Vandergriff.
Oh, yes, Homer. Sorry. Make sure to give this message to Mr. Pearson. I'm laid up here in
the country with a cold. I won't be able to get to the city for that appointment on Monday.
Mr. Pearson knows all about it. Ask him to meet Miss Vale at the boat for me and see
to it that she's settled at the hotel. Tell him not to expect me back in the city until
next Wednesday at the earliest. Yes, sir.
Tell him I'll take care of that financial matter for Miss Vale when I get in. It can
wait until Wednesday. Yes, sir.
And tell him not to bother to call me. I'm going to spend this week in bed, and I don't
want to be disturbed. Yes, sir.
Thank you, Homer. So Mr. Vandergriff was indisposed. Too bad. Now the girl would have to be met
by a substitute, a stranger. Well, she didn't know either Vandergriff or Pearson from a
hole in the ground, so what did it matter? And if it came to that, why did the substitute
have to be Mr. Pearson? Why couldn't it be me?
For Suspense, Roma Wines are bringing you Walter Abel in quiet desperation. Roma Wines
presentation tonight in Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills, Suspense.
Suspense, Radio's Outstanding Theatre of Thrills is being brought to you by Roma. That's R-O-M-A.
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America's favorite wines. And now Roma Wines bring back to our Hollywood Soundstage, Walter
Abell as Homer Bigelow with Kathy Lewis as Hester Vale in Quiet Desperation, a play well
calculated to keep you in suspense. My days of quiet desperation were over. Anyone taking
a real close look at me that Friday wouldn't have been sure I had a fever. My face felt
hot and every now and then I had a fit of trembling. But evening finally came. I gulped
down some food at the cafeteria, picked up my bags at home and went to the station. The
next day I was saying hello to Emil on the platform of the Eel River Station.
Hello, Homer. Comment ça va?
Hello, Emil. Glad to see you again.
How is my bon ami, Mr. Pearson?
Fine. Fine. He sends his regards. How's the fishing?
Oh, magnifique. The best ever.
Are many others on the river, Emil?
Oh, not a one. The fish, they are hungry like anything and not the one to give them small
flight to eat. Now you come, Homer, and they will be all for you.
Ah, that's fine. I'll get started right up. Is everything all set?
Oui, tout prêt. Everything is ready, eh? Come.
In half an hour I was at the camp on the shore of the Eel River. I had lunch, changed my
clothes, put my city clothes into my pack instead of into my suitcase which I was going
to leave in camp. And by three o'clock I was a good eight miles up the Eel River. By four
I had hidden my canoe and equipment in some bushes along the bank and dressed again in
city clothes was walking slowly through the woods toward Loudon's Corners three miles
away. It was a local stop on the railroad just below Eel River and the train south was
due in at nine at night. I had plenty of time to catch it and make the transfer at Boston
for the night train to New York. In the Boston station I bought a cheap suitcase and a couple
of shirts and when the train dropped me at Grand Central early Sunday morning I went
straight to the 49th Street Hotel which was just a couple of blocks from the Ambassador.
I scrawled the name Henry Smith in the register and was shown to my room. I had a whole day
and a night to wait and for once with all that time on my hands I didn't read a book.
Excuse me where could I find a Miss Vale one of the passengers. What name? Hester Vale.
Vale look over there by the fence. She hasn't gone through she's probably there. Thank you.
Miss Vale Miss Vale. Over here. Good morning Miss Vale I'm. You're Mr. Vandegrave. That's
right. So good of you to come my father promised he would meet me. How is your father? He's
very well thank you. Still growling about Europe's ruin. It's been a beastly nuisance
this waiting. Is there anything I can do to help? Thank you. That chap's finally finished
mucking about with my boxes. Think I was an adventurer smuggling something priceless into
your country. I have nothing to declare you know. Came with empty trunks. Suspect to fill
them up while I'm here. Can't buy a thing in Europe you know. Europe's a dreadful nightmare.
So I understand. Father walked you all about it did he? Foolish of him to write. Mail might
have been opened. Oh no after all the war's over. Is it? Well shall I take you to your
hotel you probably want to rest. Rest? Not at all. I'm scooting out to the shops right
off. Oh you you have enough money for shopping? They allowed me a hundred pounds. I still have
most of it. That'll do for a starter. They'd only known about you know. Yes if if you'd
care to turn over the the contraband I could see about converting it into dollars for you.
Contraband eh? Spies and all that sort of thing. That describes it exactly. It's very nice.
But not now. I'll take them out of the hotel. All right. Is there anything you'd like me
to do this evening or you'd like to do this evening? Oh dear I don't want to impose on
your time. Oh you're not imposing. It's a pleasure. But I'd like to see a play. One
of your bright American musicals is possible. Well I think that can be arranged. Suppose
I call for you at seven. We can have dinner and then go to the theater. That's splendid.
It's right beside. Forget it. I haven't seen a musical myself. Well not for a long time
anyway. I took her to her suite of the ambassador. Then I went back to my room to think over
my plan. It was almost too simple. As soon as she turned the securities over to me I'd
take them to a broker and collect. Then I'd catch the night train back to Loudon's Corner
then through the woods to Eagle River. By tomorrow afternoon I'd be in my canoe again
as if nothing had happened. A few days after that the canoe would come drifting down the
river wrong side up and my stuff would be found floating in a quiet backwater. Under
another name I'd go out west. With eighty thousand dollars I'd never have to go back
to that old life of quiet desperation. No sir I was through with that forever. As for
the man who posed as Corbin Vandegrift he'd never be found and no one would ever connect
him with the Homer Bigelow who was drowned on a fishing trip in the swift waters of the
Eagle River two hundred and fifty miles away. Good evening Miss Vale. Hello right on time.
How was the shopping? Oh I say it left me quite speechless. I can't wait until I can
really go on a spree. Are we ready? If you are. Quite. Oh dear. There now will you hold
this key for me. There's simply no room in my bag for it. Sure I'll keep it in my pocket
for you. Thank you. I picked a quiet little restaurant where I was sure I wouldn't meet
anyone who knew me. The theater was going to be an ordeal of all those people but that
couldn't be helped. I had to play my part until she handed over those securities. I
couldn't afford to look too anxious about them either but I knew that worried. While
we were waiting for the dessert she opened her bag and pulled out a package of about
a dozen small envelopes different sizes and different shapes. Here you are Mr. Vanderbilt.
Take good care of them. Are these? They are. I put them in my inside pocket. All the way
down Broadway in the taxi I felt them. The envelopes were too small it seemed to me to
hold securities. Maybe if they were folded over but even then they would have to be bulked
here than they were. I had to look into those envelopes to know if the securities were really
there but I had no chance and it wasn't until the taxi dropped us in front of the theater
that I was able to make one. Well here we are. Miss Vale I I wonder if you'd mind seeing
the show alone. Oh dear. I don't know what did it to me but I've suddenly gotten a terrific
headache. Oh that is too bad. Oh it'll be all right. I just thought the music and the
excitement wouldn't help much. No I should think not. Suppose you take me back to the
hotel and then you can go right home. But wouldn't you like to see the show by yourself. Oh. You
could you know and then take a taxi back to the ambassador. Yes I suppose I could. Why
should I think the headache of mine spoiled your whole evening. Here take the tickets
and go on in. Well thank you I will. I'm dreadfully sorry you have to miss it. Oh I'll make up
for it another time Miss Vale. There are plenty of musicals you want to see. You'll be sure
to take something for that headache now won't you. I will. Thanks a lot for being so considerate.
Good night Miss Vale. Have a good time. Oh I'm sure to. Good night Mr. Vandergrove.
Back in my hotel room with shaking hands I opened the envelopes. They were nothing but
letters from her friends. Sent to her from different parts of the world not a single
security in any of them. Could it have been a mistake. Did she hand me the wrong package.
Didn't seem possible. Maybe she suspected something was wrong and played a trick on
me. I was sweating and reached for my handkerchief and that's when I felt her hotel key still
in my pocket. I threw the package of letters into my suitcase and walked over to the ambassador
two blocks away. Her key opened the door and I was alone in her suite. I had until at least
eleven thirty two and a half hours. I took my time about it making sure to put everything
back exactly as I found it. I searched her baggage the bureau the drawers the closet every
conceivable place even under the rugs and pond. Exactly nothing. She had them on her
then. I turned the light off and went into the bedroom to wait. Soon after eleven thirty
I heard the outer door open. Really I'm terribly sorry to have caused this trouble Mr. Vandergrove
was suddenly taking the headache or I'm sure he wouldn't have forgotten to return my key.
It really doesn't matter miss. You can use this duplicate until he returns it to you.
Oh it is bothering though. Oh not at all Miss Vale. Happens often. Well good night. Thank
you good night. Oh dear. What are you doing here? I'm sorry to disturb you Miss Vale but
I had to come back you see you forgot to give me the securities. Securities? Yes the securities
I was to have sold for you. Oh my dear but I did. Oh no there wasn't anything in the
package except some letters from friends of yours. Who are you? You're not Mr. Vandergrove.
Miss Vale what my name is doesn't matter very much by this time it's enough for you to know
that I want those securities and I need to get them hand them over. You get out of here.
I warn you Miss Vale I don't want to get nasty but I'm not going to leave without them. Stay
away from me. The securities Miss Vale. No no no. Where are they Miss Vale. Tell me.
I don't want to hurt you. The more she struggled the tighter I gripped her throat. Her arms
beat weakly against my side and suddenly I got so mad at her that I. Where are they.
Where are they. Tell me where are they. My fingers tightened and strained against her
soft flesh then suddenly she quit struggling and when I loosened my grip she fell down
on the floor unconscious. Where was that purse of hers out there. I ripped it over nothing
there but a powder compact and lipstick and some change. Where could they be. She'd have
to tell me I'd make her miss fail wake up miss fail. She didn't move. And then I saw.
That she wasn't breathing anymore. I'd killed her. I never meant to kill the girl I hadn't
any idea I was choking her that hard all I wanted was. Now I had to get away. I couldn't
stay there with that limp body of sprawled on the road but I had to be careful. Couldn't
afford to make any mistake now. I remember everything I've read in detective stories
you had to be careful about fingerprints. I ran to the bathroom and grabbed the towel
and with it wiped every surface I might have touched. Then I dragged the body to the bedroom
and put it on the bed. I shut the door behind me. Turn the lights off in the sitting room.
I listened a couple of seconds at the outer door. Everything was quiet. I ducked out and
went to the stairs. The lobby was empty. I crossed over and went on to Park Avenue. Five
minutes later I was in my hotel. It was twelve thirty. I could still catch the one o'clock
train for Boston. Fine mess I've made. The best thing that could happen to me now. Mind
you the best thing would be to get back home to the boarding house to the bank to that
horrible hopeless rot I tried to get away from. That was the best I had to look forward
to. The worst. I didn't even have the courage to think of it but then what could they pin
on me if anybody had anything to worry about it wasn't me it was Vandegrift he had the
date with her and not I. As far as anybody knew I didn't know any such person as Hester
Vale ever existed. Vandegrift was the guy she told the desk clerk she'd given the key
to but the poor sap wouldn't even be able to prove an alibi for late last night midnight.
I could go back to my fishing and forget the whole thing forget it ever happened I was
safe. Fine consolation that was after all the beautiful plans I made but at least I
was safe. Boston I checked the new suitcase I could pick it up on the way home the local
dropped me at Loudon's corner by noon I was sitting over my campfire having a bite just
like any other fellow out on a fishing trip. Ten days later on a Saturday morning I was
back at a meal camp. Mr Bigelow I was fishing fine a meal. Oh you get nice sunburn. I'm
not sure. Did I really get that brown. Well like Barry. Really nice and quiet. I have
no party fishing before August when Mr Pearson come with four friends. Yes I know he told
me. He's some fisherman Mr Pearson always try for record but you don't care for record
that means the big love you leave the simply the quiet life. I guess I do. You enjoy it.
I try my best. You have other hobby maybe. No I don't have any hobbies except reading.
Mr Pearson and me we have same hobby. That's why we such good friends. Oh I didn't know
that. Oh we we we great one for a philately the time. You know someday I'll show you my
collection. It's been three albums but I have no so good collection like Mr Pearson but
then I have no so much money. Neither have I. You make joke. Mr. Pearson even wealthy
I know but still a meal can give him some stamp for once in a while. I have few duplicate.
You do me big favor and give them to Mr. Pearson. I think me compliment. Oh sure I'd be glad
to. Now I drive you to station. Next year you come again. No yes I'll come again. Well
Homer you're back. Did you enjoy your rest. Yes it was fine Mr Pearson. Good good good.
I can't say we've had any enjoyment back here. Have you heard about Mr Vandegrift. Mr. Vandegrift
knows there's something wrong wrong. I'll say there is he's been arrested for murder.
He insists he's innocent but the police have a strong case against him very strong. That
looks bad bad indeed. So are we all it means I'll have to give up my fishing trip this
summer for one thing I can't desert old man be at such a time. I have to worry me and
I just got a letter from him telling me he had everything arranged to yes he told me
he was expecting you. Oh well can't be helped. Oh say by the way he wrote that he sent some
duplicates on to me and your care stamps you know. Stamps. Oh that's right he did. Sorry
I forgot about them Mr. Pearson I must have them at home. I'll bring them in tomorrow.
No hurry no hurry I have no mind for them now anyway. Well back to work come on back
to work. That night I looked for the stamps but I couldn't find them. How I ever made
them I managed to lose them I'll never know. Now I'd have to explain to Mr. Pearson. No
I wouldn't have to explain. I still had those letters her letters. They were from foreign
countries. I'd take the stamps from those envelopes and give them to Mr. Pearson. He'd
never know the difference. I knew how fussy he could get about little things like lost
stamps rather than get him started on the lecture. I got out the package of letters
cut the stamps off and then burned the letters and the envelopes. The next day. Yes. Here
are those stamps sir I found them at home all right. Oh well just put them on the desk
Homer thank you very much. Oh don't mention it Mr. Pearson. I was having my lunch later
in the boardroom when Mr. Pearson came in he had a stranger with him a tall man with
an angry face. Here you are Homer. Yes sir. I want you to meet Mr. Scott. How do you do?
I do. Those stamps you gave me Homer are you sure you got them from a meal. Oh yes sir
just before I left he gave them to me for you. No Homer no I just called him he told
me he gave you some recent French issues. Those weren't the stamps you gave me. Well
Mr. Pearson I guess you found me out you see I lost the stamps Amiel gave me and I didn't
want to disappoint you so I went to a stamp dealer and picked up a dozen odd stamps to
replace them. I didn't think it would make much difference. Is that your story big alone.
What do you mean it's true. They were very rare and very valuable stamps Homer. You must
have shelled out a pretty penny for them. I don't know Mr. Pearson feels a man in your
position couldn't afford to buy stamps like those unless. Unless what. Unless you didn't
buy them at all big alone unless you got them from the late Miss Hester Vail. Well what's
the matter Homer is the name familiar to you. No I know sir I I never heard of what makes
us think so is that the stamps Miss Vail smuggled into this country were the same issues and
worth exactly as much. Eighty thousand dollars. Worth eighty thousand. Could it be a coincidence
Mr. Big Lone. Quiet desperation. I've been catching up on my reading here in prison while
waiting. I found another good quote. Happiness is the absence of pain. Suspense. Quiet desperation
starring Walter Abel and presented by Roma wine. That's our O.M.A. Roma wine. Those better
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Roma wine. That's Roma America's largest selling wine. Walter Abel will soon be seen in the
Hal Roach production Fabulous Joe. Tonight's suspense play was by George and Gertrude Fass.
Last Thursday same time you will hear Donald O'Connor at Star of Suspense produced and
directed by William Spear for the Roma Wine Company of Fresno California. In the coming
week Suspense will present such stars as Edmund O'Brien, John Lund, Lloyd Nolan and others.
Make it a point to listen each Thursday to Suspense, radio's outstanding theatre of thrill.
This is CBS the Columbia broadcasting system.